SWAT and Critical Incident Management Program

The OpTac International SWAT and Critical Incident Management Program will be held August 14-15, 2014 in Hagerstown, Maryland.

This program is based on the book, SWAT Operations and Critical Incidents: Why People Die written by Stuart A. Meyers, and includes his Harvard University prize-winning research on the complexities of critical incident management. Law enforcement administrators, executive officers, incident and tactical commanders, and SWAT team personnel will benefit from an improved understanding of critical incident management, and its associated legal and liability concerns from both organizational and operational perspectives. Presentations include an analysis of contextual and hierarchy leadership, contemporary command decision-making, practical applications for incident management, and a model of essential organizational conditions to increase the consistent likelihood of successful incident outcomes. An examination of the following six case studies are presented in detail:

1) High-Risk Search and Arrest Warrant Service: Madinat Zayed, United Arab Emirates (2010): An armed suspect who had previously threatened to kill police officers was arrested at his residence for weapons and narcotics violations. He was a violent offender with a lengthy criminal record. The Abu Dhabi National Police Department SWAT team served the search and arrest warrants, which resulted in no injuries.

2) Armed Barricade and Threatened Suicide Operation: Eureka, California (2006): A suicidal woman was shot and killed by Eureka Police Department SWAT team members after she threatened to burn down her apartment building, kill herself, and injure others with a flare gun. The Chief of Police and Incident Commander who authorized a tactical entry into the woman’s apartment were criminally indicted by the grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

3) Hostage Rescue Operation: Manila, Philippines (2010): A former Philippine police captain took Chinese tourists hostage aboard a bus. Police snipers eventually shot and killed the suspect, but not until he had already killed eight hostages.

4) Hostage Rescue Operation: Las Vegas, Nevada (2011): A serial rapist took a woman hostage inside of her apartment, and unbeknown to negotiators, repeatedly raped her throughout the night. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Team Leader shot and killed the suspect while another team member pulled the woman to safety after the tactical entry was authorized.

5) Hostage Rescue Operation: Mauldin, South Carolina (2003): A man took his ex-girlfriend’s brother (an off-duty deputy sheriff) and father hostage at their residence. He later shot and killed them after the incident commander allowed him to speak with his ex-girlfriend on the telephone. The suspect then dropped his gun and surrendered to Greenville County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team members when they entered the home.

6) Hostage Rescue Operation: Silver Spring, Maryland (2010): A suicide bomber took three hostages inside of the Discovery Communications Headquarters. Members of the Montgomery County Police Department SWAT team shot and killed the suspect during an emergency entry, successfully rescuing all of the hostages.  

The cost to attend this special event is $425 per person. There is limited space available, therefore, paid reservations are accepted on a priority basis.